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ECAMI (Empresa de Comunicaciones, S.A.) is a renewable energy business based in Nicaragua, focusing on solar photovoltaics, wind power and hydroelectric system. [1]
ECAMI was founded in 1982 by Luis Lacayo Lacayo, to supply radio communications equipment in rural areas of Nicaragua where infrastructure had been destroyed during the prolonged civil conflict and revolution. Photovoltaics (PV) were the ideal way of powering this equipment, because there was no grid electricity. Many other opportunities for PV became apparent to Lacayo, like home lighting, battery charging, water pumping and refrigeration.
Over time, the provision of renewable energy systems became the main activity of ECAMI. [2]
ECAMI routinely supplies and installs solar-homes PV systems in rural areas. ECAMI designs and installs PV-powered mini-grids to provide power for homes, hotels, museums and planned health centers in small communities. Underground distribution systems connect all the users to the supply, with individual current limits to each facility. ECAMI installs PV supply systems for mobile phone masts, with considerable savings in fuel diesel.
In Managua, six hotels have been supplied with solar water heating systems by ECAMI. One with 50 m2 of panel area supplies 100 rooms each of which had previously required a 6 kW immersion heater, another with 16 m2 of panels supplies 40 rooms. About 150 domestic solar water heaters have also been installed.
ECAMI supplies and installs small wind turbines of between 400 W and 5 kW output, and can also install hydroelectric systems. [3]
Renewable energy systems installed by ECAMI have decreased the use of CO2 emitting fuels for more than 100,000 people in Nicaragua. ECAMI's systems provide longer hours of emergency service in health centers, the installations of water pumps that bring drinking water to distant communities, access to satellite internet, land irrigation, and longer and more efficient working hours.
ECAMI is a GVEP (Global Village Energy Partnership] partner. [4] Other memberships include International Solar Energy Society (ISES), ANPPER Nicaraguan Association of Renewable Energy Promoters and Products, and ANPPER Nicaraguan Association of Renewable Energy Promoters and Products. ECAMI has work agreements with similar foreign companies, including Curin Corporation (United States), Isratec (Guatemala) Energy and Systems (Canada).
On June 11, 2009, in London, Charles, Prince of Wales presented Max Lacayo the Ashden Energy Enterprise Award [5] for ECAMI's achievements, particularly for the installation of high-quality photovoltaic systems in rural and off-grid areas. The Ashden Awards are an internationally recognised yardstick for excellence in the field of sustainable energy.
Off-the-grid or off-grid is a characteristic of buildings and a lifestyle designed in an independent manner without reliance on one or more public utilities. The term "off-the-grid" traditionally refers to not being connected to the electrical grid, but can also include other utilities like water, gas, and sewer systems, and can scale from residential homes to small communities. Off-the-grid living allows for buildings and people to be self-sufficient, which is advantageous in isolated locations where normal utilities cannot reach and is attractive to those who want to reduce environmental impact and cost of living. Generally, an off-grid building must be able to supply energy and potable water for itself, as well as manage food, waste and wastewater.
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A photovoltaic system, also called a PV system or solar power system, is an electric power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the output from direct to alternating current, as well as mounting, cabling, and other electrical accessories to set up a working system. Many utility-scale PV systems use tracking systems that follow the sun's daily path across the sky to generate more electricity than fixed-mounted systems.
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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to solar energy:
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Jamaica's electricity sector is dominated by non-renewable generators that use petroleum products, primarily Bunker C fuel oil and automotive diesel which generated 93% of the annual output for 2014. There is a small contribution from a few small hydroelectric plants and a couple of wind farms, one of which, Wigton Wind Farm, contributes a very small amount despite being the largest wind farm in the Caribbean.
Renewable energy in South Africa is energy generated in South Africa from renewable resources, those that naturally replenish themselves—such as sunlight, wind, tides, waves, rain, biomass, and geothermal heat. Renewable energy focuses on four core areas: electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, transportation, and rural energy services. The energy sector in South Africa is an important component of global energy regimes due to the country's innovation and advances in renewable energy. South Africa's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is ranked as moderate and its per capita emission rate is higher than the global average. Energy demand within the country is expected to rise steadily and double by 2025.
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